Fuel valve



Dec. 18, 1934. c. w. THORNHILL 1,984,444

FUEL VALVE Filed July 15, 1953 OOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOO Charles 14/. Tmmmn 7% INVENTOR.

OOOOOOOOOOOO oooooooo ooqo Y ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES This invention relates to fuel valves. It has for its general. object the provision of a new and improved fuel valve that will be found particularly useful in-connection with gas, burn- 5 ers to permit the flow of. gas to the burner so long as the latter is burning and to automatically shut off the flow of gas to the burner should the flame. be extinguished.

A specific object of the invention is to provide in a valve of this type a. pair of relatively movable elements, the one being connected to a latching device whereby it may be held open to permit the flow of the gas to the burner initially, and the other being connected to a thermostatic element arranged to be expanded by the heat generated by the burner to permit the continued flow of the gas and to'render the latching means inoperative so that when the flame is extinguished the contraction of the thermostatic element will effect a predetermined movement of; said elements to shut off the flow of the gas.

Another specific object is to provide in such a ,valve new and improved packing means for the valve element rods arranged to be compressed by the springs utilized to actuate said. elements...

Another specific object is toprovide new and improved adjustable means to render the valve usable. with thermostatic elements of. various sizes.

A further object is to utilize the burner itself as a thermostatic element to'operate the valve.

Other objects. will hereinafter appear.v

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by theaccompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof one embodiment; Fig.2 is a detail view showing the details of the valve in the embodiment shown-by Fig: 1; Fig; 3 is a detail. view illustrating. theadjustable means whereby the valve may besused withthermostatic elements of various sizes; Fig; 4is-a sectional elevation of another modification; and Fig. 5 is a partly sectional fragmentary elevation of a further modification.

It will be understood that while the' invention will be found particularly useful in connection .with gas burners, it may be used with any fuel apparatus.

Referring. to Figs. 1' and. 2 of, the drawing, the gas inlet pipe is indicated atfl', the valveloody at 2 and the burner at 3.. Adjacent the. burner. 3 is'a thermostatic element 4 which. may. comprise a .metalribbon. adifustably connected. at one 'end by the, nut I 5. to. thenlbracket. 6. and at. theother. to the; r'od'7. of. the first valve element. 81. Thether mostatic element 4 may be connectedtoitherod 7 by the-connection indicated at 9.

operate with the seat 10 in the valve body from which it is normally urged by the compression J described. to the thermostaticelement 4 it. is connectedto anarm. .23.. pivoted atl24 on the bracket- 25 which hafi va v member? 1 apted to 00- OFF-[6E i spring 11 bearing thereagainst and against the 1 plate. 12. to. compress the packing. 13. I

The first valve element 8 has openings 14 therein which are normallyclosed by the second valve element-15 which has a rod 16 extending through thevalve body 1 and having pivoted at 17. toits outer end the latch 18. The secondval-ve element, 15' is-urged upon the first valve element 8 to close the openings 14 by the spring 19 bearing .thereagainst and against the plate. 20- to compress the packing 21.

The first and second valve elements 8. and 15 are preferably inthe form of disc-like diaphragms. as shown The operation of this embodiment is as. follows:

The operator,v grasping. the latch 18', pulls the rod 16- outwardly against. the resistance of spring 19 to move the secondvalve-element 15 away from the first. valve element. 8.; and rotates. the latch 18.011 itsv pivotl'l to cause the cam surface 18a to bear against the body 1 and releasably hold the parts-in. said positions- Gas. may. thereupon passthroughthe openings 14. in. the first valve element. 8 and throughpipe body 2 to permit the latch 18v to swing. into itsinactive; position. The. movement. of the-first. valve element 8 by the spring 11 islimitedby thehook 9 which constitutes a connecting means between the rod... 7 ..andthermostatie.element. 4. As: the.

spring .L1. is stronger than the spring .19, the. parts their remain. in. said positions so long. as. the gas continues to burn. at the.'burner 3,v the. gasthen passingbetweenl seat. 10. i and the first. valve. element. 8.

Now iithe gasv atthe be. extinguished, thethermostatic element will contractv to move the. first valve ,elementtl upon...its..seat.. 10. against the. resistance; of. spring, 11. and the. secondvalve element. 15,. actuatedbvthe. spring,.1'9 ,,.w.ill follow: the. firstvalve element -8. to.close.-the opening. 14. The flow ofgas. is thereby. shut. off.

. Referring. to..-Fig. 3,. ;the.numeral. 22. indicates a rod correspondingtothe first valve rod? just Instead oi being. connected directly;

amen-m s Qai abe r 2' The hs m s ment 4 is connected by a pin 26 to the arm 23, and the arm 23 is provided with spaced openings be thereby shut; off. n In Fig. 5 the construction is the same except a p heatresponsive element.

ed, and openings 32 through which the gas enters the pipe 28.

The burner and thermostatic ele- The first valve element 33 is mounted on the pipe 28 and cooperates with seat 34. It has a central cpenin g'35.- Thesecond valve element 36 hasa rod 3'lon which is mounted corresponding latching device 38'. The second valve element 36"is urgedupon thefirst valve element 33 to close the opening 35 by the spring 39 hearing thereagainst and againstthe plate 40 to compress the packing 41. a Y

The operation of this'embodiment is as followsr The operator grasps the latch 38 and thereby pulls the rod 37 outwardly to moveythesecond 1 valve element 36from-the first valve element 33; and rotates the latch 38 on its pivot 42 to cause the cam surface 38-a to engage the body 2'7 to releasably hold the parts in said positions, so that gas may pass through the body 27 and opening 35 in second valve element 33 andinto the pipe 38 to be ignited at the openings 31. When the pipe 23 is heated by the burning gas at the openings 31; it expands, to move the first valve element 3 from the seat 34' intovengagement with the second valve element 36 to disengage the cam surface 38'a from the body 27 so that the latch 38 will-fall into its inactive position. Gas will If the flames at the openings 31"should be extinguishedthepipe 28 will contract tomove the first valve element 33 upon" its seat 34; Thefirst valve element 33 will be followed by the second va1ve'element36 actuated by spring 39 to close opening 35. The fiow-of gas to the pipe 28 will vided with openings'4'6' through whichthe'gas issues to be ignited.

I claim: l

1. The combinatien with a gas burner, of a valve comprising a body having a seat; a first valve element; a firstspring to urge said first valve element away from said seat; a heat responsive element associated with said burner and connected under tension to saidfirst valve elesecond spring to urge said second valve element upon said first valve'element to close said opening; anda latch accessible from the exterior of .i

then'pass through theopenings 32- into the pipe 2 "element away from said first valve element against second valve element to move said second valve element against the resistance of said second spring and thereby cause said latch to release said second valve element, so that said second valve element may 'clos'ethe opening in said first valve element when said first valve element is returned to said seat by said heat responsive element.

2. The combination with a gas burner, of a valve comprising a body having a seat; a first valve element; a first spring to urge said first valve element away from said seat; a heat responsive element associated with said burner connected under tension to said first valve element to normally hold said first valve element second spring to urgesaid second valve element upon said first valve element to close said opening; and a latch accessible from the exterior of said body to releasably hold said second valve elementaway from said first valve element against the resistance of said second spring; said heat responsive element being expansible by the heat generated-by said burner to permit said first spring to move said first valve element away iron".

' said seat and tocause said latch to release said second valve element, so that said second valve element may close the opening in said first valve element when said first valve element is returned U tosaid seat by said heat responsive element.

3.The'- combination with a gas burner, of a valve comprising a body having a seat; a first valve element; a heat responsive element associated with said burner and operatively connected to said first valve element; said first valve elemen'i having an opening'therein; 'a second valve element; a spring to urgesaid second valve element upon said first valve element to close said opening; and a latch'accessible from the exterior of said body to releasably hold said second valv:

the resistance of said spring; said heat responsive valve element away from said seat and to cause element being expansible by the heat generated by said burner to permit movement of said first said latchto release said second valve element, so that said second valve element may close the opening in said first valve element when said first valve element is returned to said seat by said valve element; a spring to urge said second valve element upon said first valve element to close said opening; and a latch accessible from the exterio'."

. of said body. to releasably hold said second valve element being expansible by the heat generated said body to rele'asably hold said second valve.

element away from said first valve element against the resistance of said second spring; said heat element away from said first valve element against the resistance of said spring; said heat responsive by said burner to move said first valve elementaway from said seat and to cause said latch to release said second valve element, so that said second valve element may close the opening in said first valve element when said first. valve eleresponsive element being expansible by the.

first spring to move said first valve element away from said'seat and into engagement with said 'ment is returned to said sponsive element.

7 CHARLES W. THQRNHILL.

seat by said heat re-" 

